Drawbench



W. E. KERR Aug. 2, 1949.

DRAWBENCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1942 INVENTOR WALLACE E. KERR TTOR E Aug. 2, 1949.

W- E. KER R DRAWBENCH Filed March 27, 1942 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 KKKQ R INVENTOR WALLACE E. KERR w. E KERR Aug. 2, 1949.

DRAWBENCH Filed March 27, 1942 3 Shqets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WALLACE E. KERR TORN Y Patented Aug. 2, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAWBENCH 1 Wallace E. Kerr, Youngstown, Ohio 7 Application Match 2'1, 1942 Serial No. 436,436

This invention relates to'apparatus for drawing' metal tubes, rods, bars and the: like and more particularly to drawbenches employing movable arms adapted to extend across the benchfor the purpose of removing the tubes, rods or other drawn objects from the bench.

' The principal-object of. the invention is the provision of improved arrangements for mounting and operatingthe. arms aforesaid whereby the arms and theirysupporting, operatin and other ancillarydevices are subjected to less shock incidentto theynormal operation of the apparatus-as awholelin order that the ruggedness and durability of the assembly may be increased. 1 A further object of the invention is the provision of .an -improved arrangement for mounting and operating the movable unloading arms whereby the mechanism required to achieve a desired mode of operation .is, substantially sim-, plified and in which the mechanism itself is substantiallyless liable to damage by movement of the draw carriage upon failure of proper functioning of any of the parts or controls em-,

vention, which embodiment. employs retractablearms normal-1y biased to positions across the drawbenchand, having latch means to retain the arms in retracted positions, the principal objects of theinvention are attained by so mounting the arms that; the only, obstruction to their movement are;the latches mentioned. In this manner the arms are madefree to move out of the way of the draw. carriage regardless of :its direction of travel and thus substantial breakage and damage during operation of the apparatus is avoided. In another form of the invention, the principal, objects are attained by providing improved means to cushion the blows of the draw carriage, or any partmounted thereon, on the arms and to cushion the reactionary movement imparted to the arms.

Another object of the inventionisto provide. an unloading arm arrangementwhich is simple yet effective in operation-but which nevertheless requires fewer and less complicatedparts than any system heretofore devised'for the purpose. To accomplish this object, arms having an inclinedupper surface are mounted for rotation about vertical axes from across to the side of thebench andviceversa, biasing means are, employed tending to maintainthe arms across the bench, readily. controlled retracting means is -9 Claims. (c1.205 3 r carriage during its outward or drawing move-- ment. The invention is also 'cons1dered toreside.

in the instrumentalities employed to effect this mode of operation.

Yet another object of simplification of the control of the retraction of retractable drawbench unloading arms so that immediately uponv the initiation of the return movement of the draw carriage, the arms Willbe automatically moved to retracted positions. In one form of the invention, this operation is accomplished by employing the draw carriage return control element also as the control element for the retracting means.

The above and other objects and advantages,

Ofthe inventionwill become apparent fromv a consideration of the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawings wherein there is specifically disclosed certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: a

Figure 'lis a plan view of a drawbench unloading arm constructed in accordance with the prin-.

ciples of the invention; a

Figure 2 is a plan view of a detail of the apparatus of: Figure 1;

- Figures 3; and 4 areside and end elevations, respectively, of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a schematic showing of a portion of aldrawbench control system which may be employed in a drawbench utilizing the arm construction of Figures 1 through 4;

Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, plan and en views of a modified form of unloading arm and operating arrangement therefor;

Figure 8 is a section along the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

'Figure 9 is a side view of a portion of the apparatus of Figures 6 and 7; and

Figures 10 and 11 are, respectively, sections along the lines l0--I0 and Il-ll of Figure 9.

.ing apparatus, as is well understood in the art,

and. reference numeral l l indicates a grip bit carriage which is moved outwardly along the bench to effectthe, draw by a chain or other suitable device, not shown. Spaced along the bench at suitable intervals, six feet, for example, are the unloading arms 12 and since these arms and their Arm I2 is provided with a sloping or inclined.

top surface, as shown in Figure 4, and is keyed to the invention is the a vertically extending shaft l3 which is rotatably mounted in a housing l4 having pivotal connection with the bench ID by means of a horizontally extending pivot pin which extends through an aperture of the housing bracket l4 and through apertures in members It rigidly bolted to the bench Ill. The purpose of this pivotal connection between the bench Ill and the bracket [4 is to enable the arm and its supporting bracket M to rotate clockwise, as viewed in Figure '4, thereby allowing the arm l2 to move into supporting engagement with the top of the bench in the event a severe load is applied on the arm.

Secured to the lower end of shaft I3 is a crank" l1 and connected with the crank pin is the piston rod I8 of a cylinder l9 which cylinder is carried by a pin swivably mountedin averticalbore v through an extension 2| of the bracket M. Integral with or rigidly secured to the outer endof the crank pin aforesaid is an arm 22 which is oriented with respect to the crank ll'in'the manncr clearly shown inFigure"2. Pivotally engaging-the outer end of the arm22 is a tension spring. 23, the outer end of which is anchored toa bent? rod 24 projecting outwardly from a socket 25 formed'on the bracket M; The parts22,.l3,' and i2 are so angularly related that when the arm l2 extends at right angles to'the longitudinal'axis of the bench ill, the centers-of the shaft I3 and the connection between arm 22 and spring 23 are in alignment with'the axis ofspring 23': Thus the spring 23 is operative at all times and in substantially any angular positionof the arm l2"to urge the arm into discharging position as shown By referring to Figure 3', it will be 3 observed that the'spring 23 is connectedwith thein the figures.

arm 22 by means of a pin 26 extending downwardly from-arm 22 and it will be apparent that the arm I2 is free to rotate through any angular distance including one or more complete revolutions without interference by the spring 23 except the' biasing action imparted hereby. Likewise,

the crank connection between'the shaft l3 and piston rod I8 also allows unlimited angular'move ment of the shaft and arm [2:

Also keyed to shaft l3 and positioned immedi ately below the hub of the arm l2"is a" dog 21 having a latchengaging stop; 28 and" pivotallymounted'on a shelf'29 formed with the bracket I4 is a latchflflbiased to stop engagingpositionby By referring to Figure 1; it will' be apparent that arm l2'has' unlimited rotation-in a spring 3|.

aclockwise direction and may be" rotated in a counterclockwise direction" until stop 28' engages latch 3!). Measured from the-dischargingp'osition this latter rotation is approximately'2'70.

Latch 30 has an integral operatingarm 32 adapted to be'engaged by agate-type of *operator33'pivotallymounted on the carriagef Ii A'block'34 pre vents counterclockwise rotation ofmember' 33'; as

viewed in Figure 3 and the member is free" to" rotate in the opposite direction;

Cylinder [9 receives fluid under pressureirom a flexible conduit 35' which is connected-witha in a counterclockwise direction into the discharg: ingposition in which it is shown in the figure; The d-irection'of draw is as indicated by the'arrow in'Figure 1. at thestartofthe return movement of the-carriage if; it is desirable-to move the arms I2 intO'" At'the completion of'thedraw and '4 retracted positions out of the path of travel of the carriage so that the carriage may be quickly returned without colliding with any of the arms. This is accomplished, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, by supplying fluid pressure to the pipe 36 at this time and this pressure enters cylinder l9 through conduit 35 to move the piston rod l8 outwardly therefrom. This movement rotates the arm l2 clockwise a= suflicient extent to allow the latch to fall in behind the stop 28 thus latching the arm in retracted position. Upon the return movement of carriage H, the gate 33 overrides the latch arm 32 and the same operation is followed at each of the arms encountered.

Any'suitablemeans may be employed to control the-flowof) fluid under pressure into the pipe 36 to retract the arms when desired and the control may be either manual or automatic but to simplify the operation of the drawing apparatus-,it isdesirable that the arms be: retracted/simultaneously with the. initiationiof the return movement of: the grip-bit carriage.- A: control system .for effecting this modezof= opera tion is shown in- Figure 51' wherein reference numeral 31 indicates a motor for' driving the carriage return: cable. Although; in: general practice and as' shown; more: fully ininmcoe pending application Ser: No; 226,477; filed'August 24, l938jnow Patent No'. 2,404y234, .granted-%July 16, 1946, the motor. This ofthereversingztype iii" order that the carriage may be movedr'inieithers direction independently of the 'drawchain; Figure 5 shows only that portion of thecircuit which is required t'o effect returrrinerveiiient of the carriage and the'di'agrairi-is' otherwise imcomplete but it is suflieient for 'the-purpose of illustrating thepreferred modeof operatiomot the arms I 2. A valve' 38; when operated 51' solenoid 39'} is-operative to connect supplyline 40* with the pipe 36 and when the'soleiioid is de energizedj the line- 40 is-cl6sed andthe pipe 364$ connected with an exhaust-oi' returnqinefl.

Motor SFisenergizedfinirhtlie current source Ll; L2 througltthe' contactors SF, S2 operated by'coi1 42-E S3 is alimit' switch=whic-h is opened by anoperator 43 on thecarr'iage"H'Wherithe' carriagereaches the end of its return movement: 84 is a manually engageable switch whichis operative when closed to energize coil 4''2 'tlirougli L2; conductor 44; S4} conductor 45; conductor 415 and-LI. 41"is a manually engageableinchfe turn button which; when depressed; opens nor: mally'closed switches S5 and Stand closesnot mally open switch S1; Simultaneously with 'ener; gization of coil" 42by'the closing solenoid 391s energized th'roughlil; conductor 48; conductor 48; S5; conductor; S8; conductor 54; S3: conductor'52, S2, andliueLZf It should be observed that. upon" the closing" of $4, a holding circuit is providedforjcoilli consisting of'LZ; S2, 52, S3, 5|; S5; 45; and" to Ll: Thus upon closingof "S41 solenoids and 42' remain energized until thecarriage reaches= the die blockjand switch S3 is opened. The hold-- ing circuit may be interrupted at any timeby' manually depressing the inch controi- 41. It should be observed that when operator 41 is depressed, the solenoid'can 'notbe'energiz'ed since" S5 is" opened and therefore the" arms are" not" retractecl while return-movement" of the carriage out along the bench-is but eflected'by theinch it is esired to return the carriage'oniya cient distance to get a new bite on the blank. The arms in back of the carriage, being in bench spanning positions, support the blank and soaid in reattaching the blank to the carriage.

'1 Figures 6 through 11 illustrate a modified form of unloading arm construction in which the movement of the arm from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa is accomplished by engagement of the grip bit carriage 55 movable along the bench 56. The arm, indicated by reference numeral 51, is rotatably mounted by means of a shaft 58 on a bracket 59 having pivotal connection with the bench 56 by means of a horizontally extending pin 60. This pivotal interconnection between bracket 59 and 'bench' 56 allows arm 51 to rotate downwardly into engagement with the bench 56 to absorb a heavy load placed on the arm.

The side of arm 51 which is engaged by carriage 55 during its return movement is bowed outwardly at 6| and'this portion is arranged to be engaged by a bumper block 62 hinged to carriage 55 at 63 and springs 64 take up the shock of the engagement between 6| and 62. Integral with or rigidly attached to the arm 51 is a leg 65 which, when the arm is rotated by the member 62, moves into engagement with a member 66, pivotally mounted on the carriage 55 at 61. A shock absorbing spring 68 biases the member 66 to outer position and in operation, as the carriage advances into engagement with the arm 51, the first movement imparted to the arm by the impact is absorbed by member 66 and spring 68 and the reaction of the latter swings the arm back into engagement with member 62 compressing spring 64." This oscillation may continue for a few cycles thus dissipating the kinetic energy initially imparted to the arm at different points and over a period of time. Consequently none of the parts are subjected to excessive shock and therefore the assembly is less likely to fail in service and will require less maintenance.

Arm 51 is keyed to shaft 58 and keyed to the lower end of shaft 58 is a diametrically extending block 69, one face of which has alternate engagement with one or the other of the two rubber bumper blocks which are rigidly clampedin the bracket 59. Extending outwardly of the bracket 59 in a direction parallel with the axis of draw is a boss 1| in which is loosely and rotatably mounted a bent bar 12. The bar is bent downwardly, as shown, and interconnecting the lower end of the bar and a pin 13 depending downwardly from one end of the member 69 is a tension spring 14 and it should be apparent that the member 69, swingable rod 12 and coil spring 14 provide an over center device to bias the arm 51 in either its discharging position shown in Figure 6 or in its retracted position along side the bench 56 to which latter position it is moved by the return movement of the carriage 56. It will be observed that as the arm 51 approaches its outer retracted position, its stopping at such position will be cushioned by one of the blocks 10.

It should be understood that in a complete drawbench assembly, a number of the arms 51 are spaced along the drawbench and that the direction of draw is as indicated by the arrow in Figure 6. At the start of the outward or drawing movement of carriage 55, the arms are all in retracted positions and the legs 65 thereof extend generally normal to the axis of draw, these positions being approximately 90 clockwise from the position of leg 65 in Figure 6. As the carriage passes by an arm 51, the inclined surface of the member 66 engages the leg 65' of the arm and gradually rotates the armcounterclockwise at least suflicient to move the axis of the spring 14 to theother side of the axis of the shaft'58 and the 5 spring 14 is then operative to continue the movement of the arm to its discharging position under the tube, rod, or other object being drawn by the carriage. Upon reaching such position, the movement of the arm is arrested and cushioned ininterengagement of the block 69 and the other of the rubber bumper blocks 10.

It should now be apparent that I have provided improved arrangements and constructions for drawbench discharging arms and for mounting the arms on the bench whereby the arms and their appurtenances are less likely to be damaged during-operation of the apparatus and whereby the shocks imparted to the members incident to the normal operation of the aparatus is substantially diminished. Also, it should be now apparent that the invention provides improved methods of operating the arms whereby the general efliciency of the apparatusis increased.

The above specifically described embodiments of the invention should be considered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Drawing apparatus comprising a drawbench, a grip bit carriage movable thereon, a discharge arm pivotally mounted outside the path of travel of said carriage. for rotatable movement into a discharging position in said path, release able means to retain said arm in retracted position outside of the path of travel of said carriage, and means mounting said arm for rotatable movement in either direction from any position in said path, and means to move said arm into said path from any position out of said path.

2. Drawing apparatus comprising a drawbench, a grip bit carriage movable thereon, a discharge arm pivotally mounted outside the path of travel of said carriage for movement into and out of a discharging position in said path, means constantly urging said arm into discharging position, releasable means to retain said arm out of said path of travel, and means mounting said arm for unlimited rotation in either direction upon release of said releasable means.

3. Drawing apparatus comprising a drawbench, a grip bit carriage movable thereon, a discharge arm movable from a position outside the path of travel of said carriage to a discharging position in said path, releasable means to retain said arm in said first mentioned position, means mounting said arm for movement to said second mentioned position and beyond said second mentioned position sufiicient to clear the path of travel of said carriage upon the release of said releasable means, and means constantly urging said arm into discharging position from substantially any position in its path of travel.

4. Drawing apparatus comprising a drawbench, a grip bit carriage movable thereon, a discharge arm pivotally mounted outside the path of travel of said carriage for movement into and 70 out of a discharging position in said path, means constantly urging said arm into discharging position, and means to move said arm into retracted position outside of said path and against the force of said urging means comprising a crank connected with said arm and an arm moving member connected with said-L crank, saidi arm be ing mounted for unlimited rotation without obstruction by said moving means.

Drawing. apparatus comprising in combina tiona drawbench, a grip bit carriage movable outwardly therea-longr to eftect a draw, means comprising a manually engageable control element operable, when actuated,v to automatically return the carriage to the worhhea'd of the drawing apparatus anda second manually engageable control element operative, when depressed", to effect return movement of said carriage; a discharge arm movable from a; retracted position outside of the path of travel of said carriageinto and out of a discharging, position" in said path, means to move said arm from discharging position to retracted position, means operable upon actuation of said first mentioned contror element to actuate said means to move said am, and means operable upon actuation of said second mentioned control element to exclude actuation or said: means to move said arm.

6. A- drawing machine comprising a drawben'ch, a grip bit carriage and a discharge arm movable from discharging position in the path of travel of the carriage to a retracted position outside of said path by travel by passage of said carriage, and means on the carriage for resiliently restraining the motion of the arms '7. A drawing machine comprising a drawbench, a grip bit carriage movable therealong, a discharge arm movable from a discharging position in the path of travel of said carriage to a retracted position outside of said path of travel, means resiliently initiating movement of said arm by passage of the carriage, and means associated with the carriage for resiliently retarding the movement of the arm imparted by said initiating means.

8;- Drawing apparatus comprising. adrawbench and at gripbit carriage'movable therealong,.a discharge armpivotally mounted outside the; path of travel. of said carriage and movablev from a retracted position outside of said path into and out of a discharging. position in said path, said arm being engageable by said carriage for movement-intoretracted position, and yieldable means opposing continued movement of said armi beyond said retracted position, said yieldable means tendingto retain said: arm retracted position;

9. In metaldrawing apparatus having" at work,- head, abench, and a drawheadmovable along said bench; a work dicharging device comprising an arm movably mounted on one side of said bench for movement from retracted latched position outside the path of travel of said head to discharging position in said path and vice verse, means to move said arm from discharging to retracted latched position, said means including means to restrain overtravel of said arm and to return said armfrom overtraveled position substantiaily tolatched position.

WALLACE E. KERR.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,541,424 Linderme June 9, 1925 2,182,902 Nye Dec. 12, 1939 2,262,432. Rodder et a] Nov. 11, 1941 2,301,674 Andrews Nov. 10, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 173,690 Great Britain Jan. 12, 1922 

